News
Over the past few weeks, Upper School Book Club have been reading and discussing the newest title from Alex Gino, You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P.
“Jilly thinks she’s figured out how life works. But when her sister Emma is born Deaf, she realizes how much she still has to learn. A big fantasy reader, Jilly connects with another fan, Derek, who is a Deaf Black ASL user. She goes to Derek for advice but doesn’t always know the best way to ask for it and makes some mistakes along the way. Jilly has to step back to learn to be an ally, a sister, and a friend, understanding that life works in different ways for different people, and that being open to change can make you change in the best possible ways.“
In response to the text, pupils each wrote a short poem: a couple of examples are below.
Don’t treat them differently.
Their race doesn’t matter:
Their ability’s the same.”
2. “Jilly P taught me…
that you don’t always know everything.
Don’t make decisions by yourself.
Ask your family about things.
How?
When?
Why?
What?
What do you think?
Do you want to join in?
That everyone is a person inside the wold.
You shouldn’t treat people differently.
Everyone’s unique.
Don’t make boundaries out of disabilities.
Open the gate, open your mind.
Not everyone in the world is your enemy.
Your friends will always be there, Jilly P.”
Below is a finished poem that the whole group wrote together in celebration of National Poetry Day!
What Jilly P Taught Me:
That you don’t always know everything, even eventually.
Don’t just make decisions by yourself.
Ask your family
How? When? Why?
Are you okay?
What do you think?
How was your day?
That you shouldn’t treat people differently
Everyone’s unique
Don’t make boundaries out of disabilities
Open the gate
Open your mind
Open your heart
Free your soul, it’s what’s inside
That matters
That not everyone in the world is your enemy
No matter how harsh other people might be
Your friends will always be there for you
They are the roots to your tree
And most importantly,
You can choose how you want your peanut butter and jelly
But… eventually….
You still don’t know everything, Jilly P!
–Upper School Book Club and Miss Bufton, 2018
Miss Bufton, Head of English & Mrs Hunt, Librarian
